Scale indicating means



Dec. 3, 1940. L. s. WILLIAMS SQALE INDICATING MEANS Filed March 8, 1937-4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ow/fe/ice 6. VW/fams INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 3 1940.

L. S. WILLIAMS SCALE INDICATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8,1957 ATTORNEY Des; 3, 19 40. L s wlLLiAMS 2,223,773

SCALE INDICATING MEANS Filed March 8, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f if jATTORNEY Patented 3, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCALE INDICATINGMEANS Lawrence S. Williams, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Toledo ScaleCompany, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 8,1937, Serial No. 129,690 2 Claims. (01. 26529) This invention relatesgenerally to weighing substantially along the line V-V of Figure IV.scales, and more particularly to indicating means Figure VI is anenlarged detailed view of a of computing scales, such as are used inretail portion of the lens frame shifting device seen establishments.Such scales are usually provided substantially from along the line VIVIof with a chart having rowsof computed prices Figure IV. for differentunit values and an index for select- Figure VII is an enlargedfragmentary perspecing the proper computed value. tive view showing thekey shift mechanism of The principal object of this invention is theFigure V, in greater detail. provision of improved means for aiding inthe Figure VIII is a plan sectional view through selection of the propercomputed value. the lens system and showing a fragment of the 10 Anotherobject is the provision of a plurality computing chart, the sectionbeing on the line of lenses mounted in spaced relation to each VIII-VIIIof Figure II; and, other. Figure Di is a fragmentary plan, sectionalview Another object is the provision of improved through one of theoperating keys, the section means for shifting a series of magnifyinglenses. being substantially on the line IX-IX of 15 Still another objectis the provision of improved Figure VII. means whereby relatively fewlenses are capable Referring to the drawings in detail: of magnifyingall of a comparatively large num- The scale in connection with which Ihave her of columns of computed values. shown the object of theinvention is fully dis- Another object is the provision of improvedclosed and described in U. S. Patent No. 2,066,624 2 means whereby aplurality of relatively small to H. W. Hem. It comprises a base II onwhich lenses, cooperating with a single, large lens, may are mountedbrackets l2. Aligned portions of be shifted in relation thereto withoutchanging the brackets l2 are equipped with ball bearings the focus ofthe system. l3 in which the ends of shaft H of a chart I5 Still anotherobject is the provision of imare mounted. The chart additionallycomprises 25 proved means for selectively positioning a a pair of chart;spiders it which are fixedly plurality of lenses. mounted on the shaft Min spaced relation to Another object is the provision of an improved itsends. The chart surface ll comprises a sheet keyboard controlled devicefor positioning such of thin aluminum which envelops the spider i6lenses. and hasprinted thereon rows or columns I8 3 Yet another objectis the provision of a and is of weight indicia and rows 20 ofcomplurality of weight indicia columns and a single puted value indicia.The plurality of rows l8 lens adapted to selectively cooperate therewithare similar and indicate the weight of the comto magnify said indicia.modity being weighed to the merchant and the These, and other objectsand advantages will row I! of weight indicia is adapted to give the 35be apparent from the following description, in weight indication to thecustomer on the opposite which reference is. had to the accompanyingside of the scale. The rows 20 of computed drawings wherein similarreference numerals value indicia are numerically arranged, that is,refer to similar parts throughout the several the first computed valuesindicia row gives the 9 views. price of material at l per 1b., the nextat 2 per 0 In the drawings: 1b., and so forth. gu e I is a pe spectiveview of a scale em- Also mounted and pinned on the shaft 14, nearbodying the invention. one of its ends, is a pinion 2i whose teeth meshFigure II is an enlarged fragmentary sectional with the teeth of a rack22 which is actuated by 5 view showing the optical system, the sectionthe lever system of the scale and whose move- 5 being substantiallyalong the line IIII of ment is controlled by the load counterbalancingFigure III. means so that it is moved through a distance cor- Figure IIIis an enlarged fragmentary front responding to the amount of load on ascale platelevational view of the movable lens frame and form 22 andconsequently revolves the chart,

of the positioning mechanism, seen substantially thrgugh an angle whichalso corresponds to the 5d from the line III-III of Figure 11-. amountof load, in the well lmown manner. The Figure IV is a sectional viewthrough the key load platter 22 is mounted above a casing 33 mechanism,sectioned on the line IVIV of which rests on the-base-il and houses theentire Figure III. scale mechanism.

Figure V is an enlarged sectional end view, The casing 23 is providedwith alongitudinally 55 means of screws 32 (Fig. III).

extending opening 24 in which is mounted a piano-cylindrical lens 25.This lens is immovably retained to the casing by means of clips 26. Abezel 29 of thin aluminum, or other suitable material, is fastened toprojecting portions 21, of the brackets I2, by means of screws 28 (Fig.VIII). This bezel is substantiallyfrusto pyramidal in shape and itslarger end is positioned immediately in back of the lens 25 and itssmaller open end overlies a portion of the chart surface. In the spacebetween the chart I5 and the smaller open end of the bezel29 is a lensframe 30. To slidably support the frame 30, two fiat metal bearingmembers 3| are fastened to integral, downwardly projecting bosses 33 byA similar hearing member 34 is fastened by means of screws 35 toupwardly projecting bosses 36 of the frame 30. The edges of the members3i and 34 are beveled and rest on bearing balls 31 positioned insubstantially U shaped trough-like portions 38 of brackets 39, 40 and 4|which are screwed to suitable bosses 42 of the bezel 29 (Fig. II). Thisconstruction permits the lens frame 30 to be moved longitudinallywithout binding and substantially with no friction.

A series of windows 43, having beveled edges are provided in the lensframe 30 and a plurality of lenses 44 are stationed in these windows.The cross section of the lens is a truncated sector and the width of thefiat face, formed by the truncation, is equal to the width of one of thecolumns of computed value indicia. Clips 45 are employed to retainthelenses to the lens frame.

It is stated hereinbefore that the computed value columns are. arrangedarithmetically with respect to the unit value which is one of thefactors in calculating the computed value. In the initial position ofthe lens frame the lenses 44 overlie the'computed value columns whoseunit prices end in the figure one, thus 0111-2131 and so on up to thecapacity of the chart. When this lens frame is moved the distance of thewidth of one of the columns 20 the lenses overlie the computed valuecolumns whose unit values end in the figure two, thus 02--12-223242 andso forth. It is possible to shift the lens frame 10 times so as to coverthe entire price range. A lens 46 is positioned in the lens frame so asto overlie the first row III of weight indicia. This lens is somewhatlarger than the lenses 44 and, with the exception when in the two endpositions, a. single row of weight indicia may be viewed from twosuccessive positions of the lens when the frame is moved; for thisreason there are fewer rows of weight indicia to indicate the weight tothe merchant than there are shifts of the lens frame. The row I9 ofweight indicia is adapted to be viewed by the customer in the usualmanner in the back of the casing 23.

Repetitive use of the scale habitualizes the operator to look at certainpositions of the chart for certain prices, thus on the old typecomputing scale the merchant will always, unconsciously focus his eyeson a certain spot for prices within the 20 block and at another spot forprices within the 40 block and so forth. He must, however, observe carein selecting the proper value within the block, that is in selecting thelast figure. Such care need not be exercised with a scale embodying theobject of the invention since only a single price within each block isvisible, as instinctively the operator will pick out the proper block.In addition, the unit value is also visible unit, assembled to a topplate 50 and secured within a casing 5I which is fastened, in properposition, to one of the ends of the casing 23. Projecting downwardlyfrom the top plate 50 are four studs 52 to which a bottom plate 53 isfastened by means of screws 54. The front and back edges of the plate 50are bent downwardly and inwardly resulting in channel sections in whichsets of bearing balls 55 are positioned, on these antifriction meansbeveled edges of an interlock plate 56 are slidably mounted (see Fig.IV). The ends of the bottom plate 53 are similarly channeled and onbearing balls 5'! av shift plate 58 is mounted.

Shift keys 59 which project through registering slots 60, 6|, 52 and 63in the plates 50, 56, 53 and 58 respectively are all of the same designand construction (see Fig. V). Each key comprises two sections which aremovable relative to each other, a shifting section 64 and a lockingsection 69. Both are stamped from flat sheet metal, one of which, keysection 64, serves to actuate the lens shift mechanism. This sectionextending above the top plate 50, is provided with a'cap 65 and isadapted to be depressed by the operators finger. The lower end of theshift section 64 projects through slots 62 and 63 in the plates 53locking section 69 is mounted side by side with the shifting section inthe slots hereinbefore referred to. In its initial position, an integralsaw tooth-like stop 10 rests with its horizontal shoulder against acurled-over tongue II (Figs. V and IX) at one end'of the opening BLinthe interlocked plate 56. Similar stops I0 and III on the opposite edgeof the locking portion 63 are also provided to limit its upward anddownward movement respectively. The upper end of the locking section 69has a semicircular notch I2 into which a laterally projecting punchedpod I3 of the shift section 54 is adapted to fit, when the shift section64 is depressed. Both key sections, 34 and 69, are provided with slotsI4 which register with each other when the key is in its initialposition- Long and short tongues 15 extend longitudinally in the slots14, and serve to maintain a compression spring I6 (Figures V andIX) inalignment with the axis of the assembled key. This compression spring I6is a part of the key assembly and is provided for a purpose which willhereinafter become clear.

The channel section formed along the back edge of the bottom plate 53has riveted thereto two brackets II and "I8 which, in aligned apertures,support a slide rod I9 (see Figures VI and III). This slide rod I3projects through aligned openings in the legs of a substantially Ushaped carriage 83. A coil spring 8| surrounds a portion of the sliderod 79 and extends between the projecting leg of the bracket 18 and thecarriage 88. To actuate this carriage 88 a link 82 is pivotallyconnected with one of its ends to a stud 83 dependingly fixed to thecarriage, 88. A washer and a pin 84 prevent its disengagement. The otherend of this link 82 is pivotally connected by means of a pintle 85 to ashift lever 88 which is fulcrumed at 81 (see Figure III) on the frontchannel of the bottom plate 53. At a point substantially nearer thefulcrum of the lever 88 than its other end a link 88 connects the lever88 to an extension 88 riveted to the shift plate 58. A connectionbetween the carriage 88 and the lens frame 38 comprises a suitablyformed rod 98. Bent-over ends of this rod 98 project through openings inbrackets 9| and horizontally formed portion 92 of clamp 98 secured tothe carriage 88 and the lens frame 38 respectively. Suitable means areprovided to retain the rod 98. Any movement of the carriage 88 is thustransmitted to the slidably mounted lens frame 38. To position thecarriage and thus the lens frame at any desired point a locating arm 93is fastened to the carriage 88. This arm is provided with a horizontallyextending portion which cooperates selectively with the shift keys 59.

It has hereinbefore been explained that the keys 59 represent the lastdigit of the unit value;

therefore, when it is desired to set the indicating device to indicatethe computed value of a commodity at a given unit value, for example 37,pressure on that key 59, which is marked 1, ac- Complishes this resultby shifting the lens frame 38 so that each of the lenses 44 overliethose computed value columns 28 whose unit values end in the Figure 7,such as, 7--1727-3747 and so forth. The operation of the mechanism thataccomplishes this result is as follows:

Pressure on the cap 85 causes the shift section 64 of the key 59 to movedownwardly until the inclined plane 61 of the laterally projectingportion 65 presses against the curled-over tongue. of the movablymounted shift plate 58, moving this plate on its ball bearing mounting adistance corresponding to the width of the projecting portion 88. Thiswidth corresponds to the width of a block of I8 computed value columnson chart i5, for example, the columns corresponding to the unit valuesof 3|, 32, 33 and so on to 40. When the shift section 84 of the key 59has moved downwardly so that its laterally projecting pod l3 rests inthe semi-circular notch 12 in the locking section 69 of the key 59,further movement of this locking section causes its sawtoothlike stop78, initially resting against the curledover edge H of the interlockplate 58, to shift this interlock plate on its ball bearings 55,permittin the stop 18 to move below the interlock plate 56 and a spring95 hooked between one end of the interlock plate and one of the studs 52immediately retracts this interlock plate. Upon removal of the pressureon the cap 65 the spring 8! on the slide rod 19 exerts a retractiveforce on the shift plate 58 through the shift lever 86 causing thecurled-over edge 68 of the slot 83 to follow the inclined edge 61 of theprojection 88 when the shifting section 64 of the key moves upwardly.The spring 16, which is a part of the key assembly 59, pushes thelocking section 69 upwardly until the horizontal shoulder of the stop 18engages the curled-over edge of the tongue H of the retracted interlockplate thus preventing further upward movement of this locking section89, which now projects below the plane formed by the ends of the otherkeys. Since, as hereinbefore stated, the compression of any ofv the keysmoves the shift plate. through a predetermined distance, the lens frame38, being connected through the lever 88, carriage 88 and rod 98, isforced to partake of the same movement. riage 88 on the slide rod 19compresses the spring 8|. When the pressure on the key is removed thespring 8| urges the carriage towards it initial position until thelocating arm 93, which is fastened to the underside of the carriage 88,contacts the locking section of the key which projects into the path ofthis arm. Since the keys 59 are positioned in echelon formation in thekeyboard mechanism (see Figure 'I) and so spaced in relation to thechart l that the edge of the locking section of each key stops the lensframe 38 so that each of the lenses 88 is positioned in front of thedesired computed value column. For example,

when the "7 key is pressed the lenses will automatically positionthemselves in front of the columns whose unit value numeral ends in 7.It is. now a simple operation for the operator to select the lensthrough which to read the value.

When positioning the lenses for another operation, pressure on anotherkey shifts the interlock plate 58 a distance which permits the spring 16to urge the locking section 69 of the previously depressed key upwardly,out of the path of the locking arm 93, and then positions the lockingportion of that key in the manner described.

When the frame 38 is in either of its end positions, for example, in theposition shown in Figure VIII, a portion of the chart surface I! extendsbeyond the edge of the frame 38 and is vis- "ible through the lens 25.This is objectionable and to prevent such exposition of the chart,flexible bands 91 are clamped to the end of the frame 38 with the aid ofclamps 98, 98' and screws 99. The opposite end of these bands 91 passover vertically positioned rollers I88 at each end of the bezel 29 andare drawn taut by helical springs l8l which are fastened to the frontedge of the bezel 29.

The bands 9! have the same width as the frame 38 and may be made of anymaterial having th 'required opacity and flexibility.

It will be seen that the embodiment of the invention herein shown anddescribed is well adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated. It isto be understood, however, that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change within the spirit and scope of thesub- J'oined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described. in combination. weighingmechanism including a load- 7 support and a movable chart and means toposi tion said chart in accordance with a load being weighed, said charthaving a plurality of primary computed value zones and each of saidzones having subdivisions denoting computed values ranging throughout aseries corresponding to various unit prices for a commodity beingweighed, a shiftable lens support disposed adjacent the chart andsupporting a plurality of spaced lenses, one coacting with each primaryzone of the chart, and means for shifting the lens support to bring thelens coacting with each primary computed value zone of the chartintoindexed relation with a selected unit price.

Such movement of the car- 2. In a device of the class described, incombione eoacting with each primary zone of the chart, and means forshifting the viewing device to bring the window coacting with eachprimary computed value zone of the chart into indexed relation with aselected unit price.

LAWRENCE S. WILLIAMS.

